Farmworkers shift hours for safety

Farmworkers reduce exposure by altering work hours and locations

Farmworkers in California are making significant changes to their work schedules and locations to reduce exposure to the growing threat of wildfire smoke. This environmental hazard poses serious risks to their health and livelihoods, requiring swift adaptations during wildfire seasons.

Research using cell phone location data sheds light on how workers adjusted during California’s 2020 wildfire season. On smoky days, the number of farmworkers in surveyed fields dropped by 35%, and work hours decreased by 37%. Even on days with less smoke, worker numbers were 18% below typical levels, with a 23% reduction in hours. 

“When this smoke is really heavy there's a large reduction in the amount of people in a field in a day,” explains the chair of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economists.

The study found that workers adapted by extending hours before smoky conditions and relocating to less affected areas. Researchers combined cell phone data with smoke plume and weather information to track 12,667 crop workers, representing 8% of California’s agricultural workforce.

“We could figure out very rich hourly information of where these farmworkers went and if they moved to another location,” shares the lead author of the research.

Wildfire smoke not only affects productivity but also poses health risks like dizziness, fatigue, and confusion, increasing the chances of injuries. While respirators are required in specific conditions, they may not fully mitigate the physical and financial challenges workers face.

The overlap between peak wildfire months and the short harvest season makes it essential to address these challenges. “We should worry about people's health but also their ability to earn a living,” highlights the research, emphasizing the need for policies that protect both worker safety and economic stability.

This research underscores the importance of safeguarding the agricultural workforce, which is critical to California’s economy, amid the growing challenges posed by climate change.